Buckle.



(L E. ST. CLAIR. BUUKLE. nrmouxon FILED MAY 3 1906.

' ru: unnnls PETERS cm, wasnmcrmv, n. c,

CHARLES E. ST. CLAIR, OF STAR CITY. INDIANA.

BUCKLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 22, 1907.

Application filed May 3, 1906. Serial No. 315,038.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES E. ST. CLAIR, a citizen of the United States, residing at Star City, in the county of Pulaski and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Buckles, of which the following is a specification.

Those cognizant with the use and construction of the common forms of buckles at present employed for connecting straps are familiar with the difficulty incident to the disconnection of strap parts after the same have been drawn tightly about an article or after the same have been merely adjusted to connect parts of any kind, the difliculty experienced being greatly due to the tension on the strap parts or by reason of the stiffness of the same, which prevents free disengagement from the buckle-tongue.

The essential feature of this invention resides in the provision of a buckle designed especially to obviate the above disadvantages, and the invention involves peculiar means for effecting relative movement of a strap part and a buckle-tongue with which .it may be engaged to disconnect such strap part from said tongue.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the disconnection of the strap part en gaged with the tongue of the buckle is effected by providing a member for positive actuation of the tongue of the buckle, whereby the same may be moved to disengage it from the strap, permitting free removal of the latter from the buckle-frame with ease and celerity. V

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof and also toacquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal section showing a buckle constructed in accordance with the invention and applied as when connecting strap parts. Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. 1, the parts being arranged to clearly show the manner of disconnecting the buckle-tongue from the strap engaged thereby, the actuating-keeper being partially moved to throw the tongue out of engagement with the strap part as the latter is separated from the buckle. Fi 3 is a bottom plan view of the buckle app ied to the strap parts. Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view of the buckle alone.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

Specifically describing the invention, the buckle consists of a frame 1, provided with the tongue 2 and adapted to receive a strap part 3, which is engaged by said tongue. The frame 1 is attached to another strap part 4, the latter having an end thereof looped about an end of the frame 1 and suitably secured to the body of the strap by a rivet or other means in the common way. The loop portion of the strap part 4 is indicated at 5, and between the plies which comprise said loop and located a short distance from the adjacent end of the frame of the buckle is arranged a cross-bar 6, forming a portion of a keeper 7, applied to the strap part 4. The keeper 7 consists of a loop somewhat similar to that usually provided to receive the free end of the strap part 3 after the same has been passed through the frame 1 of the buckle and engaged by means of the tongue 2 passing therethrough. In fact, the bar 6 constitutes the lower portion of the keeper,

being adapted for turning movement between the plies of loop 5.

The keeper 7 constitutes the means for actuating the tongue 2 in order to pull said tongue away from the strap part 8 to permit said strap part to be freely withdrawn from the frame of the buckle in disconnecting the same. For the above purpose the bar 6. is formed with a lateral eXtensiOn'S, projecting therefrom centrally of its ends and adapted for downward movement when the keeper 7 is forced in one direction. The extension 8 is connected at its outermost end with a link or member 9, of which the tongue 2 constitutes an integral portion, preferably. The link or member 9 receives the adjacent end bar of the frame 1 in such a way that said link is adapted for longitudinal movement under the actuation of the keeper 7 Longitudinal movement of the link 9 toward the keeper will withdraw the tongue 2 from the opening in the strap part 3, through which it passes, and said strap part may then be readily pulled out of the frame of the buckle in an evident manner. The keeper 7 is formed with a lateral loop 10, and when the free end of the strap part 3 is passed through the frame 1, engaged by the tongue 2 and passed through the keeper 7, said free end of the strap will rest upon oragainst the upper side of the loop 10 and will thus tend to hold the keeper 7 in a vertical or upright position, obviating all likelihood of accidental movement of said keeper, which might pull the tongue 2 out of engagement with the'strap part 3 and cause accidental disconnection of the strap part 3 from the buckle. Preferably the keeper 7, the bar 6, extension 8, and loop 10 are made of wire bent into suitable form, the parts 7 and 10 being integral and the parts 6 and 8 being integral. Furthermore, the link or member 9 can be made of wire of suitable gage, the tongue 2 being a continuation of said wire. The pivotal connection established between the keeper? and the strap part 4 is secured by arranging the bar 6 between the plies of material formed by folding an end of the strap 4 at 5.

In practical use it will be understood that the parts are arranged as shown in Fig. 1, the strap 3 resting on the loop 10 and passing beneath the keeper 7, so as to prevent likelihood of movement of these parts. To disengage the tongue 2 from the strap 3, it is first necessary to pull the free end of the strap 3 out of the keeper 7, and this will permit of upward pressure on the loop 10 to exert a longitudinal pull on the part 9, thereby disengaging the tongue 2, as shown most clearly in Fig. 2 of the drawings. It is contemplated to make the parts of the buckle out of wire, as above mentioned, or they may be otherwise formed of metal within the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is'- 1. In combination, a strap part, a buckle comprising a frame connected with said strap part, a member pivotally connected with the strap part aforesaid, a link receiving an end of the frame and operatively connected with 1 the pivoted member above mentioned, said link having a tongue extending therefrom, and a second strap part engaged by said tongue.

2. In combination, a strap part, a buckle comprising a frame connected with said strap part, a keeper pivoted to the strap part and having a lateral loop extending therefrom, said keeper embodying a cross-bar provided with an ofistanding extension, a link receiving an end of the frame aforesaid and attached at one end to the extension above mentioned, a tongue projecting from said link, and a second strap part passing through the frame and engaged by the tongue above mentioned, said second strap part passing beneath the keeper and over the lateral loop thereof for the purpose specified.

3. In combination, a strap part, a buckle comprising a frame connected with said strap part, a second strap part, a tongue for the buckle engaging the second strap part, and a keeper pivoted to the first strap part and having an extension connected with the tongue to effect disengagement of the same from the second strap part.

4. In combination, a buckle comprising a frame, a strap part connected with said frame, a second strap part looped through the frame, a tongue engaging said second strap part, a keeper applied to the first strap part to receive the free end of the second strap part, an extension projecting from said keeper, a link connected with the extension of the keeper and formed integrally with the tongue, said link receiving an end of the frame aforesaid and a loop projecting from the keeper to hold the same in a predetermined position.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES E. ST. CLAIR. 

